Rebuilt Engine Won't Start ..soemething 180 Degree Out ?

[Tedglenn 1]

I have renewed the head and cam belt on a running 1.9 standard engine and now can't get it to start. It cranks over fine and there is a strong smell of petrol at the exhaust and a spark at least at the coil as it had a short.

 

Is it possible I have something 180 degrees out ? As far as I know the distributor only goes on one way as the slot in cam shaft is offset. The Cam pulley doesn't appear to be able to be fitted wrong. I guess the timing belt is OK or the engine wouldn't turn on the battery.

 

If there an easy way to check the position of the rotor arm against the mechanicals to see it where it should be ? I guess I need to know where it should be at TDC or something ?

 

I plan to renew dizzy cap, rotor and leads but not sure why the old ones should be faulty as it was running when I dismantled it.

 

 

Thanks for any help.

[smithy 1]

take top timing cover off and turn engine over until at timing marks.

 

put a bolt in locking hole of cam sprocket towards rear of head from memory a 10mm bolt will do it also pin the crank pulley and make sure they are timed correctly.

as you say the cam and crank sprockets can only go one way due to the key ways,same goes for dizzy due to offset keyway.

 

as you have done the head double check all the plug connections,was the top end shimmed up correctly?

Edited April 27, 2011 by smithy

[Pugs in Pieces 0]

have you got the firing order right on the leads?

[Collier 0]

I have exactly same problem. new head gasket and reground vavles and belt turns over wont fire..

[Ryan 99]

Check the firing order - cylinder #1 is at the gearbox end, which I think catches a few people out.

[Pugs in Pieces 0]

put a screwdriver or similar into number 1 plug hole and turn the engine by hand until the screwdriver reaches its highest point, check position of rotor arm and thats number 1 on the cap, next no 3 then 4 then 2. try that

[Tedglenn 1]

Its started !!!! running a bit rough but with head skimmed and new belt I guess might need timing.

 

You know what i think....2 full batteries flatened to get all air out of petrol pipes etc. the petrol running round the engine pipes was very noisy. i finally pinched them by bending them a few times and i bet it freed soem air locks...anyway ..its runnign albiet rough.

 

Good luck...and thanks

[Mikey S 29 1 Cars]

Its started !!!! running a bit rough but with head skimmed and new belt I guess might need timing.

 

You know what i think....2 full batteries flatened to get all air out of petrol pipes etc. the petrol running round the engine pipes was very noisy. i finally pinched them by bending them a few times and i bet it freed soem air locks...anyway ..its runnign albiet rough.

 

Good luck...and thanks

 

it shouldnt need 2 full car batterys to bleed air out of a petrol fuel line. they run at around 3 bar of pressure when the pump is running so that tends to get rid of airlocks quite quickly. i suggest you check your fuel pump as its sounding quite weak. could be a poor earth by the passenger side rear light or the pump is starting to fail.